Report of the committee
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights has the honour to present its
SIXTH REPORT
Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Thursday, December 15, 2016, to study the issues relating to the human rights of prisoners in the correctional system, respectfully requests funds for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, and requests, for the purpose of such study, that it be empowered:
(a) to engage the services of such counsel, technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary;
(b) to adjourn from place to place within Canada; and
(c) to travel inside Canada.
Pursuant to Chapter 3:06, section 2(1)(c) of the Senate Administrative Rules, the budget submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the report thereon of that committee are appended to this report.
Respectfully submitted,
JIM MUNSON
Chair
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STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Study on the issues relating to the human rights of prisoners in the correctional system
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2018
Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Thursday, December 15, 2016:
The Honourable Senator Munson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights be authorized to examine and report issues relating to the human rights of prisoners in the correctional system, with emphasis on the federal system, and with reference to both national and international law and standards, as well as to examine the situation of vulnerable or disadvantaged groups in federal prisons, including indigenous people, visible minorities, women and those with mental health concerns;
That the committee submit its final report no later than October 31, 2017, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Charles Robert
Clerk of the Senate
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SUMMARY OF BUDGET
| Activity 1:Brockville, Kingston, Montreal | $ | 71,250 | ||
| TOTAL | $ | 71,250 | ||
The above budget was approved by the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.
| Date | Président du Comité sénatorial permanent des droits de la personne JIM MUNSON Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights | |
| Date | Président du Comité permanent de la régie interne, des budgets et de l’administration LEO HOUSAKOS Chair, Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration |
GENERAL ESTIMATE OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE SPECIAL STUDY
Pursuant to Chapter 3:06, section 2(2) of the Senate Administrative Rules.
Expenses for fiscal year 2017-18: $324,840
Estimate of the total cost of the special study: $574,000
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STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Study on the issues relating to the human rights of prisoners in the correctional system
EXPLANATION OF BUDGET ITEMS APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2018
| ACTIVITY 1:Brockville, Kingston, Montreal | ||||||
| FACT-FINDING and PUBLIC HEARINGS | ||||||
| 18 participants: 8 Senators, 10 staff | ||||||
| (1 clerk, 1 administrative assistant, 2 analysts, 1 communications officer, 3 interpreters, 2 stenographers) | ||||||
| PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES | ||||||
| OTHER | ||||||
| 1. | Reporting/transcribing (0403) | 5,400 | ||||
| (3 days, $1,800/day) | ||||||
| 2. | Transcript editing services (0143) | 3,000 | ||||
| Sub-total | $8,400 | |||||
| TRANSPORTATION, ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES | ||||||
| 1. | Hotel accommodation-Kingston | 7,200 | ||||
| 8 senators, $200/night, 2 nights (0222) | ||||||
| 10 staff, $200/night, 2 nights (0226) | ||||||
| 2. | Hotel accommodation-Montreal | 9,000 | ||||
| 8 senators, $250/night, 2 nights (0222) | ||||||
| 10 staff, $250/night, 2 nights (0226) | ||||||
| 3. | Per diem | 8,820 | ||||
| 8 senators, $98/day, 5 days (0221) | ||||||
| 10 staff, $98/day, 5 days (0225) | ||||||
| 4. | Working meals (travel) (0231) | 8,000 | ||||
| 5. | Taxis | 1,080 | ||||
| 8 senators x $60 (0223) | ||||||
| 10 staff x $60 (0232) | ||||||
| 6. | Charter bus (0228) | 10,000 | ||||
| (5 days, $2,000/day) | ||||||
| Sub-total | $44,100 | |||||
| ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES | ||||||
| OTHER | ||||||
| 1. | Advertising (0319) | 1,000 | ||||
| 2. | Miscellaneous costs associated with travel (0229) | 1,000 | ||||
| RENTALS | ||||||
| 3. | Rental office space (meeting rooms) (0540) | 4,500 | ||||
| (3 days, $1,500/day) | ||||||
| 4. | Rental - interpretation equipment- Public hearings (0504) | 10,500 | ||||
| (3 days, $3,500/day) | ||||||
| 5. | Rental - interpretation equipment- Fact finding (0504) | 1,750 | ||||
| (5 days, $350/day) | ||||||
| Sub-total | $18,750 | |||||
| Total of Activity 1 | $71,250 | |||||
| Grand Total | $ 71,250 | |||||
The Senate Administration has reviewed this budget application.
| Date | Blair Armitage, Principal Clerk, Committees Directorate | |
| Date | Nathalie Charpentier, Comptroller, Finance and Procurement Directorate |
APPENDIX (B) TO THE REPORT
Thursday, April 6, 2017
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has examined the budget presented to it by the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights for the proposed expenditures of the said committee for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, for the purpose of its special study on the issues relating to the human rights of prisoners in the correctional system, as authorized by the Senate on Thursday, December 15, 2016. The approved budget is as follows:
| Activity 1: Brockville, Kingston, Montreal | $ | 71,250 | ||
| TOTAL | $ | 71,250 | ||
(includes funds for a fact-finding mission; includes funds for 8 senators to travel)
The budgets approved by the Senate for each travel activity are the maximum amount that can be spent for that activity;
Budgets normally include funds for the full membership of the committee to travel;
In general, a reduced delegation actually travels and efforts are made to find additional savings;
Therefore, actual expenditures are expected to be considerably below the approved budget, and they will be reported to the Senate;
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In keeping with the claw back process that is already in effect, any unexpended funds allocated in this budget for travel will be returned to the central committees’ budget at the end of October 2017, to ensure that funds are not tied up unnecessarily. These funds will be made available for redistribution to all committees for travel in the Fall of 2017, upon application to the Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
Any surplus funds remaining at the conclusion of a travel activity will be clawed-back and can be made available for allocation to committees for other activities.
Respectfully submitted,
LEO HOUSAKOS
Chair